Robert Walls

In a 259-game career, Robert Walls played in three premierships (1968, 1970 and 1972) for Carlton, captaining the team in 1997 and 1978 before ending his career with Fitzroy. He coached the Lions between 1981 and 1985 before switching back to the Blues and steering them to the 1987 premiership. Walls writes weekly for The Age.

Former West Coast star Daniel Chick has made stunning claims about drug use at the the Eagles' mid-2000s, including their 2006 premiership year. Fairfax Media columnist Robert Walls stirred passionate debate back in 2007.

What did we learn from the purest football weekend of the season, when the four top teams are playing for their lives, when the eyes of the football world scrutinise every play, and where there is absolutely nowhere to hide? Plenty.